Safe.



PATENTED SEPT. l, 1903.

M. M. LONG.

3 SHE SHEET 2..

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SAFE.

APPLIGATXON FILED FEB. 9, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1 N 'gf ENTER. Mar/011 Mlany,

UNITED STATES Patented september 1, 190e'.

PATENT OFFICE.

MARION M. LONG, or CANTON, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon To JOHN w. PEoK, OE

CANTON, ILLINOIS.

SAFE.

SECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,116, dated September 1, 190g.

Application filed February 9, 1903. Serial No. 142.684. (No model.)

T all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION M. LONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the countyot Fulton and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Proof Safes; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to Io which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to burglar-proof safes, and relates more particularly to a sate that is sunk into a metal casing set in cement below the surface of the ground.

I5 The object of the invention, primarily, is to lower a sate into the ground and lock it, so that it cannot be raised except at the will ot the attendant or owner.

A still further object is to automatically 2o lock the sate below ground and at a predetermined time automatically unlock the same, so that it will be free to be raised at the will of said attendant.

Another object is to furnish a lock for a safe lowered below the surface ofthe ground, which will operate automatically by gravity to lock said sate in place and unlock automatically by gravity as well.

In the Patent No. 588,238, issued to John 3o WV. Peck August 17, 1897, a safe is lowered belov.7 ground within a shaft, and means is placed above ground for raising and lowering the same, such means being so arranged that it cannot be operated to raise the sate;

but. in myimproved arrangement I seek to provide locking means within the sate itself, so that it will be impossible for the said sate to be molested, whatever means may be employed in attempting to raise it.

to In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a solid setting of cement, showing a metal casing therein to form a vertical shaft wherein the safe is located, said figure showing the side of the safe.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the safe, as viewed from the front, showing the same lo-- cated and locked in the bottom of the metal cising. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the sate in part section with parts broken away to show 5o construction. Fig. et is a perspective view of portions ot two sections ot' the metal casing located in the cement setting and showing the cables used for raising and lowering the safe. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of theinteriorof the metal casing. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a bracket used for raising and lowering the safe and to which the cable is connected, but not shown in this figure. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an automatic latch used in connection with a time- 6o lock device.

In the several figures the numeral 1 indicares a lowermost section of a metal casing, which is walled about with asetting of Portland cement of several feet thickness, such setting extending around the four sides of such casing and beneath it', though the latter is not shown, except partially in Fig. 1. Said casing is provided with a flange 2 on its upper edge and is surmounted by a series of 7o sections 4, which are all of the same diameter and somewhat larger than the said section 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. All of the sections 4 are provided with anges on both edges, by which they may be clamped together by bolts 5, Figs. 2 and 4. At each corner of the section 1 are enlargements 3 for receiv ing the locking-bolts of the locking mechanism; but these will be more fully described later. At each end of the several sections 4 8o are vertical recesses 6, formed with such sections, as shown. The recesses correspond with one another on the various sections and form a guideway for the cables used in operating the safe vertically. In the top of the shaft thus constructed is located any desired form of winding mechanism with which to raise the safe, as shown in Fig. 1 at 7. In said latter figure the safe is indicated by the numeral 8, to the top of which are secured 9o two brackets 9 in an indirect manner, as hereinafter explained, to which the cables 10 are attached, such cables extending up through the recesses 6 and secured to the windingdrum of the said Winding mechanism 7. It is only necessary to vplace the safe ten or twelve feet below ground and over-the shaft constructed as described any suitable covering, such as brick or metal, to form the desired inclosure, although it is to be underroc stood that neither a tireproof or burglar-proof covering is necessary, but merely a covering for the shaft, which may be reached through a door for operating the winding mechanism and getting at the safe when raised to the door of the room.

In practice the safe is suitably constructed of steel, having two compartments-one for containing the locking mechanism and the other for the valuables for safe-keeping-each of these compartments being denoted by 11 and 12, respectively. The latter may be suitably divided into spaces for containing the various moneys and documents, while the former is preferably in one open chamber. The safe may have the usual door for closing the deposit portion thereof, while the chamber 11 may be left open, if desired, except for a front wall 13 near the top forsupporting portions of the locking mechanism. This portion 13 is broken away to better show the mechanism within, which consists of four locking-bolts 14, Fig. 3, which are held in guides 15, secured to the back of the safe and also on the said front wall 13. It will be observed that one of these bolts 14 is located at each corner of the safe and, as indicated, are thrust through the wall of the safe into the wall of the casing l and also into the enlargements 3, before mentioned and shown in the several figures. The opening for the bolt in the wall of the safe, together with the guides, serves to hold the boltsin proper position, they being designed to slide back and forth therein, as will be seen. A rock-shaft 16 extends across the width of the safe, having bearing, in sockets 17, Fig. 3, at the back and front. Near each end of such shaft is keyed a cross-arm 18, as shown, to each end of which is pivotally connected a rod 19, whose free ends are connected in like manner to one of the locking-bolts 14 in such manner that when the said shaft is rocked in its bearings in one direction the bolts willsimultaneouslybe withdrawn from the sockets, and if such shaft be moved in the other direction said bolts will be inserted to lock the safe. Also secured to the shaft 16 is lever 20, having connected thereto at one end a bar 21, occupying a substantially vertical position. Said bar is held and guided in a beariugat 22,and its lower end pivotally supports the end of an arm 23, whose opposite end is pivoted to some fixed portion of the safe. Between the ends of said arm is pivoted a dog 25, having an elongated upper extremity 26 for engaging a latch or pawl 27 of a time-lock device at 28, the upper end of said pawl 27 being loosely held in a sliding block 29 of said time-lock. Another extremity of the dog 25 is notched at 30 for engaging a stationary pin 3l, fixed in the back of the safe.

It has been stated hereinbefore that the brackets 9 are attached indirectly to the safe, and for the purpose of use that I put them to this is true, though of course they are to lift the weight of the said safe. Upon the latter rests a block 32, of chrome-steel, of several inches thickness of the same area as the space within the sections 4, and consequently somewhat larger than the top of the safe and overlapping the same. To the top of this block the brackets 9 are firmly bolted, being so placed that the projecting heads 9a thereof enter the recesses 6. Eyebolts are secured in the heads and to these the cables are attached in the usual manner. Placed upon the block is a slab of rubber 33 and upon that a layer of tibroid 34, followed by a block of Portland cement 35. All of these latter portions entirely cover the block of steel and closely surround the brackets 9. The object of these various layers of material will be explained presently. In the top of the safe are holes (not shown) through which are passed bolts 36 into the bottom of the steel block 32, wherein they are secured either by the usual screw-threads or some equally good means. Passing also through the top of the safe into the block 32 is a stud 37, the lower free end of which is adapted to contact with the free end of the lever 20, as shown in Fig. 2. Vhen the safe is resting at the bottom of the shaft, as in said figure, the said stud 37 rests upon the said lever, and thereby holds the bar 21 and arm 23 in the position illustrated, with the locking-bolts 14 thrown into the casing 1. However, when the time-lock is set and the parts occupy the position shown and described the contact of the stud on the lever would be unnecessary. As shown, the bolts 36 extend downward from the block 32, and their heads hang below the top of the safe. Now if the cables were to be wound upon the drum of the winding mechanism the block 32 and the parts thereon would be elevated independent ofthe safe until the heads of the bolts contact with the under surface of the safe-top, as indicated by broken lines, the said block reaching the position shown by the heavy broken lines at a d. In this position also the stud 37 would be raised to allow the lever20 to fall, together with the bar 21 and the arm 23, with its dog 25, and the consequent withdrawal of the locking-bolts from their recesses. This latter operation, however, would not result after raising the stud 37 if the time-lock is set for operation, for the reason that the pawl 27 in engagement with the dog 25 would not permit it. It will be readily seen that since the said dog is attached to the arm 23 and is held by a stationary pin at 3l and interlocked with the said pawl 27 that there can be no possibility of the unlocking motion. Therefore persons attempting to raise the safe are prevented from so doing most effectively. The block 32 and the members upon it will be raised a few inches of course or until the bolt-heads contact with the top of the safe, when the movement will stop, since the safe, being locked toits casing 1, cannot be moved. Should it be time to raise the safe, the timelock having completed its work, the sliding block 29 will be moved toward the left by the clock, thus raising the pawl to release the dog 25. At this point the entire weight of the bar pounds.

21 and the arm 23 will be thrown upon the pivot of the dog, and since the latter is in engagement with the pin 31, which is fixed, said dog will naturally be moved to the dottedline position in Fig. 2 by the slipping of the upper projection of the notched extremity of the said dog past the said pin 31. Evidently since the pawl is withdrawn the dependent support of the dog is removed, and the weight of the members on the pivot thereof carries it away from said pawl as said dog moves on that pivot. As a matter of fact, even though the pawl be withdrawn from engagement with the dog, the falling of the bar 21 and its parts will not take place if the stud 37 be resting upon the lever 20; but as soon as the winding mechanism at the top of the shaft is operated to wind the cables the block 32 and its members above will be raised, thus withdrawing the stud mentioned away from the lever 20, at which time the unlocking action takes place, and as Ithe heads of the bolts 3G reach the top of the safe the entire safe will be raised without hindrance.

In lowering the safe the time-lock is wound as usual, the pawl 27located as shown in unbroken lines in Fig. 2, and the safe permitted to descend to its place. On reaching the bottom of the shaft the weight of the safe is removed from the bolt-heads 3G, and the steel block 32 lowers upon said safe, and the stud 37 at once depresses the free end of the lever 20, raises the bar 2l and its arm 23 from the dotted-line position, and as these members rise the notched end of the dog meets the fixed pin 31 and turns said dog on its pivot, and thereby carries its end 2G against the pawl 27,

which by contact thereof is raised and drops.v

behind it, and thus locks the mechanism in place, the locking-bolts 14 entering their sockets by the same movement, as is understood. The mechanism remains in this position until the time-lock runs down at the predetermined hour.

A few ounces of weight only is required to throw the locking-bolts into their sockets and raise the bar 21 and its arm 23, whereas the weight of the block 32 and the members resting thereon approximate two hundred pounds, so that when the safe is lowered in place the locking operation is positive. Agaimin raising the block 32 after the time-lock has released the dog the weight of the bar 21 andthe parts connected therewith is more than suflicient to withdraw the locking-bolts, such weight exceeding the needed weight by several Thus it will be seen that the unlocking action is also'positive and assured.

I desire to depend on the force of gravity for the locking and unlocking operation, so as not to be dependent upon springs, which are unreliable. My idea therefore is to furnish a mechanism that will be locked automatically by gravity and unlocked automatically by gravity.

The form of time-lock employed has not been deseribed,since lattach no claim thereto;

but it may be stated in passing that l prefer to use one which is controlled by three separate clocks, any one of which is suilicient to accomplish the raising of the pawl 25. As a safeguard against possible stopping of the clock, two more still remain to perform the service desired, and in this way three chances are provided for a safe operation. It has been found through actual practice that several hours before the lock is released by the clock the pawl starts to rise, and the adjustment is so delicate that the mechanism will not be released even when the contact between the pa-wl and dog is so slight as to be almost imperceptible.

The @rose-sectional area of the shaft into which the safe is lowered is of such a size that a person can only enter it in an upright position, it being impossible for that person to stoop in an attempt to work, so that no possibility can arise of entrance to the safe at the top. Even though work were possible from that position the block of cement 35 would not permit it. The inability of persons to attack hardened cement is well known, no matter what tools or process is used. This material mixed in proper proportions cannot be blasted even though a hole be bored into which to insert the explosive, since the blast will merely blow out through the plugged hole and will not carry away any appreciable amount of the cement. The heaviest sledges and point-tools of every description will make but little progress, if any, in an attempt to cut away the cement. With a few feet thickness of this material surrounding the shaft and beneath it weeks of steady work with the best kind of tools would be necessary'y to reach the safe. In attempting to reach the safe through the shaft itself it would be impossible to do any work whatsoever, as before pointed out, and if explosives were thrown upon the top of the safe the force thereof would be upward, because of the least resistance, and the bank-building would itself be wrecked, and Athe debris would be precipitated into the shaft and make the chances of reaching the safe more remote than before. Y

The cement block 35 prevents workof any kind. The fibroid and rubber tend to absorb the pressure or shock of an explosion from above, so as to avoid damage being imparted by such pressure or jar to the operating mechanism within the safe. As a further protection the steel plate 32 is so hard that even a diamond drill will have but little effect thereon even if it could be made to reach it so as to work upon it. The said cement block and those under it are preferably somewhat larger than the top ofthe safe,as hereinbefore stated, sothatadditionalprotectionisgivenasagainst pouring` nitroglycerin down the walls of the casing to reach the safe. The overlapping plates would in a measure at least prevent entrance to the cavity in which the safe is placed.

IOO

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IIS

I desire to have it understood that it is not the intention to limit myself to the exact construction herein described and shown, since entirely dierent mechanism may be used for locking the safe in place by gravity and unlocking by the same natural force. I desire to claim, therefore, a safe having mechanism for automatically locking it below ground, such mechanism being contained also below ground. Though not shown, the sections l and et may be constructed with a full opening on one side, in other words, having only three sides, the fourth side being closed by a plate, which may be clamped to the section by means of ears orlugs or even auges, as indicated at 2 in the figures.

I have stated hereinbefore that it is preferred to operate the locking mechanism by gravity; but it 'is desired to have it understood that means operated by some other force may be utilized without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention. Furthermore, such means may be located outside of the safe so long as it is out of reach of marauders.

I amv aware that a safe has been lowered into the ground and that locking-bolts therein operated by gravity served to lock the safe in place; but there has been no attempt made to provide this means and combine therewith the unlocking of the safe by the weight of the locking parts automatically after being released by the time-lock mechanism.

I claiml. A safe for entrance into a cavity in the ground, mechanism in the safe for locking said safe within the cavity, said mechanism operated by the force of gravity to lock the safe, a time-lock device in conjunction with the' said mechanism for retaining said mechanism in locked position until a predetermined honr and then releasing the same, the mechanism by its own weight unlocking the safe when released by said time-lock.

2. In a burglar-proof safe, a casing situated in the ground, a filling of solid masonry beneath and surrounding the said casing for the purposes explained, a safe adapted to be lowered into the casing, means under the control of the operator for locking the safe automatically by gravity when lowered into position, a time-lock device for sustaining the safe in the locked position until a predetermined hour, the locking mechanism by the force of gravity releasing the safe after being liberated by the time-lock.

3. In a burglar-proof safe, the combination of a casing sunk in the ground, a safe adapted for entrance thereinto, a protecting-plate above the safe and from which said safe is suspended, locking devices within the safe for engaging the casing and operated automatically by the descent of said protectingplate, a time-lock within the safe for sustaining the locking devices in their locked position to prevent removal of the safe, said locking devices by their weight adapted to un- 'risente cavity, a time-lock for securing the bolts in that position until a predetermined hour when they are released by said time-lock, said bolts acting by the force'of gravity to withdraw from the casing to permit the safe to be raised as set forth.

5. The combination with a safe adapted to enter a cavity in the ground, of a casing in such cavity, mechanism normally unlocked and held unlocked by gravity and adapted to lock the safe to the casing, a weight covering and normally resting upon the top of the safe, means for raising and lowering the weight, means for compelling the safe to follow the rising weight but only after the latter has risen to a predetermined distance above theV safe, a stud depending from the weight to enter the safe and move said mechanism to locking position and so hold it until the stud is again lifted,and a time-lock device arranged to prevent the unlocking of said mechanism, independently of the stud, and to release it at a predetermined time; whereby lifting the weight allows gravity to unlock the safe from the casing but only after the time mechanism has released the locking devices.

-6. A safe for entrance into a cavity in the ground, a casing in the cavity for containing the safe, a weight covering and protecting the top of the safe, means attachedv to the weight for lifting it and the safe, said weight having loose attachment to the safe to permit it to be raised for a short distance before lifting the safe for the purposes explained, means within the safe for locking the safe to the casing, a depending stud on the weight for operating the locking means, a time-lock device for automatically engaging the locking means when operated by the stud and sustaining it in locked position, said time-lock also adapted to release the locking means at a predetermined time, said means unlocking the safe automatically by the force of gravity when the stud is raised therefrom substantially as set forth.

7. In a safe rendered burglar-proof by sinking the same below ground, a metal container located in the ground, the safe for entrance thereinto, winding mechanism for raising and lowering the safe, locking means within the safe for engaging with the container to hold the safe and prevent its b'eing raised, a weighted covering on the top of the safe the same capable of a small vertical'movement without regard to the safe but connected with the safe and adapted to lift the latter at the limit of the upward movement, said covering also adapted to operate the locking means for locking the safe, and means also for automatically retaining the locking means in locked position until a predetermined hour, such locking means unlocking itself by gravity when released.

8. In aburglar-proof safe, a metal casinglocated in the ground, a filling of solid masonry located entirely around and beneath the casing, a safe adapted to be raised and lowered within the said casing, cables for moving the safe,winding mechanism for the cables,means for automatically locking the safe at the bottom of the casing and other means for automatically unlocking the safe to permit it to be raised both said means operated by gravity alone.

9. In aburglar-proof safe, a metal casing located in the ground, a filling of solid' masonry surrounding it, a safe adapted to be lowered into said casing, locking-bolts within the safe, for locking the latter within the casing, a rockshaft journaled within the safe in a horizontal position, arms secured to said shaft, connecting-rods for connecting the said arms with the said locking-bolts, a lever on said shaft,

`means attached to the lever for sustaining the locking-arms in their locked position, when so placed, means also for operating the locking-bolts to place them in said locked position and mechanism for releasing the bolts to permit the safe to be raised, the locking being under the control of the operator and the unlocking being beyond his control.

IO. In a burglar-proof safe, the safe adapted to be lowered into the ground, cables for raising and lowering the same, Winding mechanism for the said cables, locking-bolts Within the safe adapted to be engaged with the cavity into which the safe is lowered for the purposes set forth, a weight above the safe to which the cables are attached, said weight having connection with the safe in an indirect manner substantially as described and adapted to operate the locking-bolts to lock the safe in position when lowered upon the safe, said weight also forming a burglar-proof protection for the top of the safe, automatic mechanism for sustaining the locking-bolts in the locked position until a predetermined hour, the said latter members adapted to withdraw by gravity to unlock the safe after being released by said mechanism substantially as set forth.

ll. A burglar-proof safe comprising a vertical hollow shaft built below ground, a safe adapted to be lowered within said shaft, a protecting-plate above the safe, cables attached thereto, winding mechanism for the cables, means for connecting the plate to the top of the safe the same permitting vertical movement of said plate above the safe for the purposes described, locking mechanism within the safe for locking the safe in the shaft, a projection on said plate for operating the said mechanism to lock the safe in position in combination with means for automatically sustaining the locking mechanism in the locked position and releasing the same at a predetermined hour.

12. In a burglar-proof safe, a casing situated in the ground, a safe for entrance thereinto and to which it is adapted to be locked to prevent being raised except at a predetermined `hou r, a plate protecting the top of the safe and closely filling the cross-sectional area of the casing in which the safe is located, said plate having-connection with the safe but permitted a vertical movement above the safe for the purposes described, means connected to the plate for raising it and the safe, a rock-shaft within the safe, a series of locking-bolts for engaging the casing, means between the rock-shaft and the bolts for operating the latter, a stud depending within the safe from the plate described for rocking the shaft to enter the locking-bolts into the casing to prevent movement of the safe, a timelock device, means in connection with the rock-shaft for engaging the time-lock for sustaining the locking-bolts in the locked position until a predetermined time, the weight of the locking device being sustained through the time-lock and released thereby at the desired time, the said locking device falling by gravity to unlock the safe when the plate and stud are raised therefrom substantially as described.

13. In a burglar-proof safe, a casing situated in the ground, a filling of cement beneath and totally surrounding the casing, a safe adapted for entrance into said casing and with which it is adapted to be locked to prevent being raised eXcept at a predetermined hour, a plate protecting the top of the safe and closely filling the cross-sectional area of the casing in which the safe is'located, said plate having connection with the safe but permitted a vertical movement above the safe for the purposes described, means connected to the plate for raising it and the safe, a rockshaft within the safe, a series of lockingbolts for engaging the casing, means between the rock-shaft and the bolts for operating the latter, a stud depending within the safe from the plate described for rocking the shaft to enter the locking-bolts into the casing to prevent movement of the safe, a time-lock device, means in connection with the rock-shaft for engaging the time-lock for sustaining the locking-bolts in the locked position until a predetermined time, the Weight of the locking devices being sustained through the timelock and released thereby at the desired time, the said locking devices falling by gravity to unlock the safe when the plate and stud are raised therefrom substantially as described.

14. In a burglar-proof safe, a casing situated in a cavity in the ground, a safe adapted for entrance' thereinto, a rock-shaft Within the safe, locking-bolts operated thereby to lock the safe in the casing, a protecting-plate on the top of the safe, the same entirely llmeans attached to the plate for raising and IOO IOS

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lowering it together with the safe to which it is attached, said plate capable of an up-anddown movement without moving the safe but adapted to lift the latter' at the limit of its upward movement, a rock-shaft within the safe, a series of horizontally-shifting lockingbolts for locking the safe Within the casing and operated from therock-shaft, an arm on the shaft, a stud on the bottom of the plate described for engaging the said arm to rock the shaft as described, a time-lock device Within the safe, a pawl operated thereby and adapted for connection with the locking mechanism to sustain the bolts in their locked position until a predetermined time and then released by said pawl, the weight of the said mechanism unlocking the safe by gravity when so released when the plate and stud are raised.

15. In a burglar-proof safe, a casing sunk in the ground, a safe adapted for entrance thereinto, a protecting-plate for the top of the safe comprising a block of steel next the safe, a layer of rubber upon the steel, a layer of iibroid upon the rubber and a block of Portland cement upon the broid, means attached to the protecting-plate thus constructed for raising and lowering it and the safe for the purposes explained.

16. A burglar-proof safe comprising a hollow vertical shaft below ground, metal casings 1 and 4 therein, the safe 11, 13 therein, winding mechanism 7 therefor, cables 10 for raising and lowering the safe, the protectingblock 32, 33, 34, 35 upon the top of the safe, the bolts 36 therein for engaging the top of the safe in the manner described and for the purposes set forth, the locking-bolts 14, the rock-shaft 16 journaled in a horizontal position, the cross-arms 18 on said shaft, the rods 19 for connecting the locking-bolts with the said cross-arms, the lever 2O on said shaft, the pin 37 in the protecting-plate for engaging the said lever 20, the bar 21 pivotally connected to the lever substantially as described, the arm 23 connected with the said bar at one end and pivoted to the safe at the other, the dog 25 pivotally carried onthe said arm 23, the stationary pin 31 for engaging the dog, and the time-lock mechanism 29 having connection with the said dog 25 all being arranged substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

17. The combination with a casing-lining a vertical shaft extending into the earth, of a plate approximately fitting in said casing, means for raising and lowering the plate in the casing, a safe suspended from the plate, devices within the safe and actuated by the relative movement of said plate to lock the safe against movement in the easing, and time mechanism arranged to maintain such lockingduring predetermined intervals, said devices being arranged to automatically unlock the safe when free to act.

1S. The combination with a suitable casing, of a safe adapted to move in the casing,v

means for lowering the safe into and raising it out of the casing, locking-bolts arranged for projecting from the safe to engage the casing, and for retracting under the force of gravity when free to move, a weight compelling such projection at proper times, and time mechanism preventing such retraction during certain intervals.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARION M. LONG.

Vitnesses H. E. HARTER, C. C. FINGEL. 

